STEP 1: Identifying honey bees

If the insects are not honey bees, this part of the website shows you how to recognise other insects and gives some advice on what to do.

Bumblebees

Bumblebees are often confused with honeybees. However they are rounder, larger and furrier and come with a variety of coloured stripes across the end of their tails. Are they in a bird box, under the decking, in the compost?

Bumblebees are important pollinators. Leave the nests alone if possible. They will die out at the end of summer and will cause no further problems. Bumblebees rarely sting or attack people or animals and should therefore not be disturbed. There are 24 different types of native bumblebee, all of which vary in size and colour.

Solitary bees

Are there lots of small bees popping in and out of the wall or very small holes in the ground. Do they have a "reddy/brown" bottom? Are they almost black?

These are solitary bees, of which there are 225 species recorded in the UK and they post no threat or harm to you, your family or pets. Solitary bees are important pollinators and should be left alone. Their numbers will decrease over the summer and their nests should be left alone.

Wasps

Is it bright yellow with black stripes? Very smooth, mainly yellow with black stripes? Is it in the roof of your house? Are they coming from a round nest in a tree? Is there a nest in the shed? Do they have a high pitched buzz? Are they after all things sweet? Then these are probably wasps.

European Hornets

Are they very big with a loud buzz? Are they black and brown with a hint of orange? Living in the roof or shed? Do they have a very big curved tail? These are European Hornets and are valuable pollinators usually found in wooden areas.

Asian Hornets

Are they dark brown or black with a velvety body? The queen is up to 30mm long and worker up to 25mm long (smaller than the European counterpart). Are the legs yellow at the ends (the European hornet has brown legs)? Do not disturb an active nest. If you suspect you have found an Asian Hornet please send a photo to [email protected]

STEP 2: I still think they're Honey bees

Honey bees are small and vary in colour from golden brown to almost black.

If you are looking at these then please contact your local Swarm Collector who will provide appropriate help or advice with your honey bee swarm.

STEP 3: Find a local Swarm Collector

IF YOU CAN'T FIND A SWARM COLLECTOR LOCAL TO YOU ON THIS MAP - GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL ASSOCIATION WHICH YOU CAN FIND HERE

STEP 4: Further Reading

If you have honey bees in the structure of your property click here for advice

All of the information you need if you have found a Honey Bee swarm should be here on this page. If you feel you do need further assistance you can contact us on 0871 362 0138 (please note calls to this number cost 24p for the first minute and 9p per minute thereafter plus your phone company's access charge).

Testimonies

On Monday July 2nd at 4.30pm a swarm of honey bees had gathered on a small tree branch that was on the border with my neighbour. He thought they were wasps and was in a panic. I confirmed they were bees with the help of your website, used your search to find and call a coordinator, who phoned back to say a bee keeper had been found. He called me immediately and arrived about an hour later with all the kit and removed the bees to a new home. It was fascinating to watch as he talked through each step. He even gave me a jar of his own splendid honey but would take no payment for this or his time and expenses. So I am about to make a donation to you for your excellent website and the service it provided. Thank you so much and lets hope those bees are happy in their new home.

A PHD student at University of Plymouth is trying to recruit bee keepers to perform a survey of traits in their bees over the summer and then use genetic tests to associate those traits with lineages of honey bees. She wants to measure drone brood timings, worker brood cycle and thriftiness and will then work out their heritage.

New guidelines for doctors from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) say they should tell patients to use honey first when they have a cough. This is based on 3 studies that showed honey reduces symptoms by 2 points on a 7 point scale.